South Korean President Lee Jae-myung is concluding a two-day official visit to Japan before travelling to Washington for his first summit meeting with US President Donald Trump, the Yonhap News Agency reports.

During his stay in Tokyo, Lee held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on August 23. The two leaders pledged to strengthen cooperation in response to shifting global trade and security conditions and agreed to reinforce trilateral coordination with the United States. Before his departure, Lee was expected to meet members of the Japanese parliament.

He will then fly to Washington, where his schedule includes a summit with Trump at the White House. The talks are anticipated to focus on trade and defence issues, particularly following the tariff deal agreed in late July between Seoul and Washington. Under the arrangement, US reciprocal tariffs on Korean exports were reduced from 25% to 15% in exchange for South Korea’s investment pledges worth $350bn and other commitments.

The White House discussions are expected to serve as a major test of Lee’s foreign policy leadership, as the Trump administration seeks to redefine the alliance with Seoul. This could include higher South Korean contributions to defence spending and potential adjustments to the presence of US Forces Korea, set against the backdrop of Washington’s efforts to counter an increasingly assertive China.

Following the summit, Lee is due to participate in a business roundtable with senior corporate figures from both countries. He is also scheduled to deliver an address at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.